Danville medical network wins international award

A network linking medical facilities in Danville has been named the winner of an international award.

The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) today said that nDanville Medical Network is one of two recipients of its Founders Award, which recognizes innovations promoting development of the “broadband economy.”

ICF is a New York-based think tank that examines the effects of communications technologies on the cities and regions.

The second recipient is the Springfield planned community in Ipswich, Australia.

Both winning entries fit the ICF’s theme this year of “Health in the Intelligent Community.”

ICF noted that the nDanville Medical Network connects more than 50 percent of the city’s medical offices, clinics and labs, including Danville Regional Medical Center.

The network provides the medical facilities with access to patient information and medical records. More than 90 percent of the medical facilities (approximately 125 locations) will be connected by December 2011, according to Jason Grey, the broadband network manager of Danville Utilities.

“The wonderful reality is that the nDanville initiative is enabling improved patient care in a rural setting, while cutting health care costs,” ICF said. “Cutting costs and improving the delivery of care is the combination that matters most in the lives of people living in communities.”